Many people relocate due to their jobs, a personal or family matter, or because of a change in relationship status. Whatever the reason people move, many people chose to pack up their own belongings and rent a moving truck to haul their personal belongings across Florida or across the country.

Unfortunately, moving in this manner is risky, and not just because of potential injuries due to lifting and moving risks. Many people who move themselves often end up behind the wheel of a large rental truck that can be up to 24 feet in length. Because they get little to no training on how to handle a large vehicle, there are serious risks involved related to operating a rental truck, including:

  • Large trucks handle differently than smaller vehicles.
  • Moving trucks have big blind spots drivers are not used to.
  • Rental trucks turn wider.
  • Big trucks take longer to come to a complete stop.

Because moving trucks handle differently and are larger in size and weight than a passenger car or SUV, many people do not know how to operate them safely. As a result, traffic accidents with moving trucks can occur. Not only do wrecks happen due to driver inexperience, but crashes involving rental trucks take place due to negligence on the part of the rental company.

When rental companies like U-Haul, Budget, Penske or other companies fail to maintain their vehicles or keep them in good condition, the person driving the truck and others sharing the road with the truck are put in danger. Some of the problems with rental trucks and rental truck companies that have led to truck accidents include:

  • Brake failure
  • Other mechanical issues
  • Lack of regular maintenance
  • Aging fleets
  • Lack of safety inspections and quality control
  • Poorly trained employees

Unfortunately, rental trucks do not fall under the federal oversight of the U.S. Department of Transportation, which means that people have to trust that rental truck companies are servicing and maintaining their trucks properly. However, many rental truck companies bypass their duties and put profits over their customers’ safety.   

Because of the large size of rental trucks, they can pose significant risks to inexperienced operators and others on the road. Whether lack of driver experience, or negligence of a rental truck company caused your truck accident and injuries on I-75, you should speak with an attorney who is experienced in trucking accident cases. Call us at 888-409-3805 for a free consultation today.

Damian Mallard, Esq.
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Board Certified Sarasota Personal Injury Attorney